China’s artificial intelligence (AI) industry is currently witnessing a significant influx of job openings that far surpass the available talent pool to fill them. According to a recent report from Maimai, a professional online network akin to LinkedIn in China, nearly 25% of the top 20 emerging economy job categories have been directly linked to AI positions. Job titles such as algorithm engineer, AI engineer, and specialists in large language models and natural language processing are in high demand. This burgeoning sector stands out amid a broader stagnation in the job market, indicating a bright spot in China’s new economy, which spans high-growth fields including technology, healthcare, and renewable energy.
Amidst the dynamic landscape of China’s job market, a stark scarcity of qualified candidates is particularly evident in sectors like cloud computing and search algorithms, where the supply-demand ratios are alarmingly low. For instance, cloud computing has a ratio of 0.27, suggesting that there are almost four job openings for every qualified candidate. Similarly, search algorithms exhibit a ratio of 0.39, with more than two openings per candidate. These figures underline the intense talent shortage that has arisen, especially as companies ramp up their focus on AI-related projects.
Contrasting the challenges in AI recruitment, the overall job market in China remains tight, with roughly two jobseekers vying for each position available. Insights from the Maimai report detail a further escalation of this competition in the first ten months of 2024, where the ratio reached 2.06. The new energy vehicle sector saw a noticeable spike in competition as well, with its ratio climbing from 1.77 to 2.04. This environment accentuates the battle for talent that tech companies, especially in the generative AI space, are currently engaged in.
The surge in demand for AI talent particularly escalated as major Chinese tech firms have begun a fierce competition for skilled professionals, leading to astonishing salary offerings aimed at attracting the best candidates. For example, some recruitment postings indicated that companies were willing to pay up to 5 million yuan (approximately US$686,000) annually for team leaders in large language model development. Similarly, within notable companies like Alibaba, the majority of positions with low supply-demand ratios were AI-related. This trend is observable across the industry, demonstrating a general shift towards prioritizing AI capabilities within organizations.
As tech giants pursue growth opportunities, their recruitment patterns also reveal aspirations to leverage domestic talent for international expansion. Companies are actively seeking to place highly skilled employees in overseas positions, which include roles like deep learning experts and AI engineers. These high-paying positions in international markets represent a strategic move to harness expertise in different regions, thereby enabling these firms to extend their global reach and bolster their competitive edge in the technology sector.
In summary, the job market for AI in China signals both a significant opportunity and challenge. While the booming demand for AI talent illuminates the potential for growth within the country’s technology sector, the stark reality of insufficient qualified candidates complicates recruitment efforts. With intense competition among tech giants for skilled professionals and rising salary offers, the employment landscape is rapidly evolving, highlighting the need for strategic workforce development and targeted educational initiatives to prepare a new generation of talent to meet the industry’s growing demands.
